Brennan Quotes & Sayings

Kami concentrated on the scarecrows going by and scribbled: "Write in your notebook to avoid this awkward moment!" Angela — Sarah Rees Brennan

Anyone we come in contact with, we either offer them life, or we drain them. — Brennan Manning

That's how we roll," Kami said. "We live a mock-and-roll lifestyle. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Oh my gosh,Nick. You're not wearing a shirt! This must be one of those exciting days ending in Y. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Get down,' he whispered.

'I'm way ahead of you,' Jamie said from the floor. — Sarah Rees Brennan

At the point when Jared relayed Ash's habit of hiding his cuddly toys in the freezer, Kami started to laugh in the movie theater. Ash glanced over at her. "Sorry," Kami murmured. "Just - the movie's funny." Ash looked back at the movie, in which a small blond child was dying of leukemia. "I have a very warped sense of humor," Kami whispered. — Sarah Rees Brennan

In the 'west' success is defined in purely material terms. He with the most money wins ... We should question, speak out and work for a better society with a whole different definition of what is deemed a successful artistic life. — Mark A. Brennan

You're barely even wearing a shirt! What are you going to do if a mugger jumps out at you, flash them? — Sarah Rees Brennan

I find that respectability grows wearisome after a time, when one is accustomed to being a disgrace. — Marie Brennan

Well, speaking as a feminist, I'm glad that women can lead
uh, groups of unspeakable magical evil."
"Yes," Alan said gravely. "It'd be shoking if the evil magicians were sexist. For one thing, that would mean they were stupid, and having stupid enemies would be a terrible blow to my manly pride. — Sarah Rees Brennan

given to me. Father, the only — Brennan Manning

The sorrow of God lies in our fear of Him, our fear of life, and our fear of ourselves. He anguishes over our self-absorption and self-sufficiency ... God's sorrow lies in our refusal to approach Him when we sinned and failed. — Brennan Manning

One of life's greatest paradoxes is that it's in the crucible of pain and suffering that we become tender. Not all pain and suffering, certainly. If that were the case, the whole world would be tender, since no one escapes pain and suffering. To these elements must be added mourning, understanding, patience, love and the willingness to remain vulnerable. Together they lead to wisdom and tenderness. — Brennan Manning

A saint is not someone who is good but who experiences the goodness of God. — Brennan Manning

Charles de Foucauld, the found of the Little Brothers of Jesus, wrote a single sentence that's ahad a profound impact on my life. He said, "The one thing we owe absolutely to God is never to be afraid of anything." Never to be afraid of anything, even death, which, after all, is but that final breakthrough into the open, waiting, outstretched arms of Abba. — Brennan Manning

Schools are compulsory for about ten years of a person's life. They are, perhaps, the only compulsory institutions for all citizens, although those with full membership in schools are not yet treated as full citizens of our society ... — Marie Brennan

The body is a self-healing organism, so it's really about clearing things out of the way so the body can heal itself. — Barbara Brennan

I'd love to see more novels and short stories where the characters have their own folklore that isn't the Plot-Bearing Prophecy of Doom. — Marie Brennan

My mood depends heavily on what happens to me right after I get up. — Marie Brennan

Troy Brennan was the kind of guy to show up in the local news for all the wrong reasons. He was trouble - hot trouble, flash-fire-on-the-stove hot trouble - and — L.J. Shen

Everyone hits bottom their own way. — Eileen Brennan

The modern public school derived from a philosophy of freedom reflected in the First Amendment ... The non-sectarian or secular public school was the means of reconciling freedom in general with religious freedom. — William J. Brennan

The United States does not view our authority to use military force against Al Qaeda as being restricted solely to 'hot' battlefields like Afghanistan. — John O. Brennan

The hunt for spouses is an activity on a par with fox-hunting or hawking, though the weapons and dramatis personae differ. Just as grizzled old men know the habits of hares and quail, so do elegant society gossips know every titbit about the year's eligible men and women. — Marie Brennan

Actors are crazy or we wouldn't be doing this. — Eileen Brennan

The vampire blood running around in their systems isn't natural, so whenever Henry or Grace get a cut, no matter how minor, their bodies can't produce more blood. It's up to Madeline to come replenish it from her own supply, another process that I'm told is (ha-ha) draining. — M.L. Brennan

As we come to grips with our own selfishness and stupidity, we make friends with the impostor and accept that we are impoverished and broken and realize that, if we were not, we would be God. The art of gentleness toward ourselves leads to being gentle with others
and is a natural prerequisite for our presence to God in prayer. — Brennan Manning

Do the truth quietly without display. — Brennan Manning

Don't order the fish," Yancy advised Merry when they sat down. "But it's a seafood joint." "More like a petri dish with menus. When they say 'catch of the day,' they mean infection." Brennan — Carl Hiaasen

The concept of military necessity is seductively broad, and has a dangerous plasticity. Because they invariably have the visage of overriding importance, there is always a temptation to invoke security "necessities" to justify an encroachment upon civil liberties. For that reason, the military-security argument must be approached with a healthy skepticism. — William J. Brennan

If we maintain the open-mindedness of children, we challenge fixed ideas and established structures, including our own. We listen to people in other denominations and religions. We don't find demons in those with whom we disagree. We don't cozy up to people who mouth our jargon. If we are open, we rarely resort to either-or: either creation or evolution, liberty or law, sacred or secular, Beethoven or Madonna. We focus on both-and, fully aware that God's truth cannot be imprisoned in a small definition. — Brennan Manning

Punishing desecration of the flag dilutes the very freedom that makes this emblem so revered. — William J. Brennan

Jon Glass had vaulted over the fence and was now approaching a horse chosen by some sort of weird horse-knowledge method, or possibly because it was shiny. — Sarah Rees Brennan

I've been your friend for years with no ulterior motive," Angela reminded her, scowling.
"I don't know that," Kami said. "You could secretly harbor a fevered passion for me. You could have bodaciousasianbeauties bookmarked as one of your favorite sites. This could have been your motive for friendship all along."
Angela rolled her eyes. "I first met you when you were twelve. You were not exactly bodacious at twelve."
"I had hotential," Kami said. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Done any exciting sums lately?"
"I don't just do sums," Miles told her. "There's much more to my life than that."
"Is there?" Alicia asked, trying to sound interested.
"Yes," said Miles. "Sometimes I draw graphs. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Damn it, I have to stop this bleeding. Oh, Will I would truly love to kick your ass for this. If you die, I swear, I'm going to kill you again." A Fine Line the Ancients (Part I). — J.C. Brennan

Why did you do it?" Ethan asked suddenly. "Why save my life?"
Carwyn looked at me. I had to admit, I was curious to know the answer as well. It didn't seem like the kind of thing a doppelganger would do. "It was a whim. It was that or buy the weird cheese-and-crackers package off the food cart."
I had honestly not expected a doppelganger to be sassy. — Sarah Rees Brennan

I think we do have to take off the gloves in some areas, but within balance, and at the right time and the right way, and for the right reason and with full understanding of what the consequences of that might be. — John O. Brennan

Poverty does not cause violence and terrorism. Lack of education does not cause terrorism. — John O. Brennan

Even if it's a really funny joke, don't laugh if the devil's the one telling it! — Sean Patrick Brennan

He knew her now. She was the weird girl in the class above him, who dyed her hair pink and always wore a lot of pentragrams and crystals. Right now she was also wearing giant chandelier earings and a violent pink T-Shirt that bore the words ROMEO AND JULIET WOULDN'T HAVE LASTED. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Nick observed the flicker of appreciation in her brown eyes. He wasn't particularly surprised. She was just the type to like them tall, dark, and carrying a lethal weapon. — Sarah Rees Brennan

I'd rather live laughing for one year than live without laughing for one hundred. — Sarah Rees Brennan

I think if you write for long enough, you eventually have a problem with everything, because you start figuring out where you could be doing better. But as far back as I can trace, I always wrote clear, grammatical prose. — Marie Brennan

I have never attempted to hide that I have had two husbands in my life.
I have, however, neglected to mention that in between them, I had a wife. — Marie Brennan

Al-Qa'ida is the antithesis of the peace, tolerance and humanity that is at the heart of Islam. — John O. Brennan

While I was looking into Olivia's mad eyes and dreaming, my son left his game and his place by the fire. I didn't even notice as he went toward what I had thought was a bundle of rags. I didn't notice as he turned it over and drew back the blanket, lifted it carefully in his small arms.
I only noticed when he spoke.
"Look, Daddy!"
Then, too late, I turned around. I did not know what I was seeing, but even then I felt a sudden lurch of shock and dread. I felt as if I had looked away at a crucial moment and my child had fallen into the fire and been burned horribly.
I saw my son, my Alan, my darling boy, and in his arms a creature with staring, terrible black eyes. Something that had not stirred or cried out even when Olivia threw it on the floor.
"Daddy," Alan said, glowing. "It's a baby. — Sarah Rees Brennan

The way we are with each other is the truest test of our faith. — Brennan Manning

I want to interfere horribly in my friends' love lives and keep my own embarrassing and pathetic one private, is that so much to ask? — Sarah Rees Brennan

You don't have to be my sister, and I know it doesn't make up for anything, but I'm yours, I'm yours. I love you and I won't stop loving you even if you hate me, I won't leave you, I won't want to, nothing you ever do or say will ever make me turn away from you. And that's family, it is, it has to be. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Tell the wind and fire where to stop. But don't tell me. — Sarah Rees Brennan

It was lucky that snarking at Luke was habit by now: Elliot remembered a line from a book he'd read once, that habit was second nature, and nature stronger than the first. It was a comfort, to have a natural expression rather than one he had to pin on. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Anyone God uses significantly is always deeply wounded. — Brennan Manning

Alan: "I had terrible stage fright."
Sin: "I'm not familiar with the concept of 'stage fright.'"
A: "It's pretty awful. You end up having to picture the entire audience in their underwear. Phyllis was in that audience, you know."
S: "Why, Alan, I had no idea your tastes ran that way."
A: "Phyllis is a very nice lady. And I do not consider her so much aged as matured, like a fine wine. But I still think you owe me an archery lesson. — Sarah Rees Brennan

I am utterly in love with you. I've been in love with you all my whole life. I've been in love with you your whole life. I don't know how to live without being in love with you, and I don't want to know. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Better overcautious than missing a jugular vein, as the saying goes.
That was a very morbid saying. Maybe only vampire said it. — Sarah Rees Brennan

The god who exacts the last drop of blood from his Son so that his just anger, evoked by sin, may be appeased, is not the God revealed by and in Jesus Christ. And if he is not the God of Jesus, he does not exist. — Brennan Manning

At no point did I form the conscious intention of founding an ad hoc university in my sitting room. It happened, as it were, by accident. — Marie Brennan

The most powerful thing that can happen in the place of prayer is that you yourself become the prayer. You leave the prayer room able as Jesus' hands and feet on earth. This is what it means to pray continually (without ceasing), to see with the eyes of Jesus and to hear with His ears with every waking moment. — Brennan Manning

So far magic school was rubbish. — Sarah Rees Brennan

At Sunday worship, as in every dimension of our existence, many of us pretend to believe we are sinners. Consequently, all we can do is pretend we have been forgiven. As a result, our whole spiritual life is pseudo-repentance and pseudo-bliss. — Brennan Manning

All we have to face in the future is what has happened in the past. It is unbearable. — Maeve Brennan

It's only in the deep depth of one's soul you will find the truth of a person. But, be fore warned, what you find may be black, sinister, and more inhuman than you could have ever imagined. — J.C. Brennan

How I treat a brother or sister from day to day, how I react to the sin-scarred wino on the street, how I respond to interruptions from people I dislike, how I deal with normal people in their normal confusion on a normal day may be a better indication of my reverence for life than the antiabortion sticker on the bumper of my car. — Brennan Manning

If your doctor has warned you to avoid excitement, do not turn to exploring your past lives as a soothing and sedentary occupation ... — Herbie Brennan

Our hearts of stone become hearts of flesh when we learn where the outcast weeps. — Brennan Manning

You were going into the Light city without a pass?" Ethan said. "That's a crime."
"I guess we don't know each other that well yet," Carwyn observed. "It's possibly time to talk about some of my hobbies and interests. One of my hobbies is crime. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Also, you may not have noticed, but this is a cupboard."
"I admit that our private office is of modest dimensions," Kami told him, "But that's the way we like it. Just because we're editors doesn't mean we need special privileges. We're not snobs. — Sarah Rees Brennan

I can find the fun in most situations. — Sarah Rees Brennan

I go to bed at night worrying that I didn't do enough that day to make sure I protect the American people. — John O. Brennan

You're both perfectly all right," she informed them. "And we will get Aurimere back, and our magic back, and our town back, and then we will have everything we need."

"We have some important stuff already," Ash offered tentatively.

Lillian frowned. "What do you mean?"

Jared surrendered himself to the strangeness of this situation, sank back onto the pillows himself with his head near Lillian's hip, and sighed heavily to attract his aunt's attention. "He wants to know you love him more than that stupid house."

"It is a very nice house," Aunt Lillian said, sounding offended. "Your ancestors are buried in the crypt of that house."

"Sure. Okay. We'll get our lovely creepy house back. When they bury me in that crypt, I want 'Jared, very inbred, deeply uncomfortable about it' on my tombstone. — Sarah Rees Brennan

They carried on sniping in the front seat, and Mae turned back to Jamie. "You doing okay?" she murmured. "Yes," said Jamie, a bit too earnestly. "I love you, Mae. Your hair is the color of flamingos! And I love Nick as well." He gazed soulfully in Nick's direction. "Sometimes when you are not being psychotic, you are quite funny. And you!" He regarded Seb for a long moment. "No, I still don't like you," he decided. "Maybe I need another drink." "I don't think so," Nick said. — Sarah Rees Brennan

In human beings, love is a quality, a high-prized virtue; in God, love is His identity. — Brennan Manning

I'm excited to see Cassie's fans and how they react to the ending of 'Clockwork Princess!' I love hanging out with readers and seeing the energy readers bring to a room: seeing so many people united in imagination is going to be wonderful. — Sarah Rees Brennan

I don't think you're weak," Jared said. "I want to guard you because you are important to me. Because you are - God, this is going to sound so stupid, I can never think of a way to say it - you are precious. I can never think of how to describe the value you have to me, because all the words for value suggest that you belong to me, and you don't. — Sarah Rees Brennan

The anything-goes passiveness of the religious and political Left is matched by the preachy moralism of the religious and political Right. The person who uncritically embraces any party line is guilty of an idolatrous surrender of her core identity as Abba's Child. Neither liberal fairy dust nor conservative hardball addresses our ragged human dignity. — Brennan Manning

Stop comparing or boast at your victories. He was referring to enormous vitality and strength of God of Jesus seeking union with us. The living acts of a Christian become somehow the acts of Christ. — Brennan Manning

Our culture says that ruthless competition is the key to success. Jesus says that ruthless compassion is the purpose of our journey. — Brennan Manning

Like any other person who reads a ton of books, I hate many, many books. Oh, how I hate them. I have performed dramatic readings of the books I hate. I have little hate summaries. I have hate impressions. I can act out, scene by hateful scene, some of these books. I can perform silent hate charades. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Chimes?" Phyllis asked. "Chimes to call a lover? Chimes with the voice of a bird trapped in them? Chimes that play you whatever song you most desire to hear?"
"No thanks," said Nick. "We've got MTV. — Sarah Rees Brennan

The dragon within my heart stirred, shifting her wings, as if remembering they could be used to fly. — Marie Brennan

All hail that bane of the upper class, a scene. The spectre of being publicly shamed — Marie Brennan

To ignore, repress, or dismiss our feelings is to fail to listen to the stirrings of the Spirit within our emotional life. Jesus listened. In John's Gospel we are told that Jesus was moved with the deepest emotions (11:33) ... The gospel portrait of the beloved Child of Abba is that of a man exquisitely attuned to His emotions and uninhibited in expressing them. The Son of Man did not scorn of reject feelings as fickle and unreliable. They were sensitive antennae to which He listened carefully and through which He perceived the will of His Father for congruent speech and action. — Brennan Manning

I did not matter what distant iron city had raised him. He had been made by Sorry-in-the-Vale, his bones as much a part of it as the valley and the woods. It was as if she had the whole town spread underneath her. Or the whole world, since right then he was the only part of it that mattered. — Sarah Rees Brennan

His eyes were closing again, all of their own accord, so that he lay in red, pain-filled darkness. It occured to him that he was dying and he didn't care.
'He's alive!' Blue said again 'He's breathing!'
'I can't see him breathing. — Herbie Brennan

[Jesus] matters because of what he brought and what he still brings to ordinary human beings, living their ordinary lives and coping daily with their surroundings. He promises wholeness for their lives. In sharing our weaknesses he gives us strength and and imparts through his companionship a life that has the quality of eternity. (Dallas Willard in Ruthless Trust - Brennan Manning) — Dallas Willard

Define yourself radically as one beloved by God. This is the true self. Every other identity is illusion. — Brennan Manning

Not doing things you can do is the whole point of laziness. Not doing something you can't do is just sensible. — Sarah Rees Brennan

When a man or woman is truly honest, it is virtually impossible to insult them personally. — Brennan Manning

(On no trip before or since have I carried more alcohol than undergarments.) — Marie Brennan

I-" said Nick, his voice halting. "I don't mind it as much when - when people touch me. Some people."
Mae looked down, and Nick, who looked more relaxed when he'd been stabbed, slowly lifted his hand from his chest and laid it on the tumbled sheets between them, fingers half-curled into his palm. He was still regarding the ceiling with a fixed glare.
"Because you trust them not to hurt you?" Mae asked tentatively.
"No," Nick said, his voice harsh. "Because I'd let them hurt me. — Sarah Rees Brennan

The feel of her body against his was exhilarating, driving all rational thought from his head. "All right, prepare
yourself, Claire Brennan."
She looked up at him curiously. "Prepare myself for
what?"
He gazed at her affectionately. "Repeat your mantra, or
whatever it is you do. Because I'm about to kiss you. — Syrie James

You're bad at climbing trees," Tomo whispered.

"I'm bad at climbing trees when I'm on fire, yes," Kami said. "Not my sport. — Sarah Rees Brennan

In my experience, self-hatred is the dominant malaise crippling Christians and stifling their growth in the Holy Spirit. — Brennan Manning

We were leaving a pleasant region, an Oriental farmer's paradise, that was more prosperous and secure under communist control than the area around Bong Son was under ARVN control. I wondered if the form of government really mattered to those peasant farmers. — Matthew Brennan

Hello, Fortitude," Chivalry said, his voice grave and calm. — M.L. Brennan

When Kami jumped over a style, he looked like he's never seen one before.
"I have never seen one before," Jared said. — Sarah Rees Brennan

The risk of just one terrorist with just one nuclear weapon is a risk we simply cannot afford to take. — John O. Brennan

I love 'Gossip Girl'! I still miss 'Veronica Mars,' though. — Sarah Rees Brennan

Who is this and what do you want?"
"Is that how you answer the phone to every number you don't recognize?" Ash demanded. — Sarah Rees Brennan